ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russian security advisers have wrapped talks in Moscow on important issues of bilateral cooperation at a time when relations between the former rivals have improved in recent years, officials said on Tuesday.
Pakistan National Security Adviser (NSA) Nasser Khan Janjua led high level ministerial delegation in talks with Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Patrushev, on April 22-23, the NSA office said.
This is the first-time ever that inter-Ministerial level delegations led by National Security Advisers of the two countries met each other.
“Both sides expressed their satisfaction at the positive trajectory and progression of mutual relationship at bilateral and multilateral levels including SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and the United Nations,” the statement said.
They also reiterated to continue to work together for further improvement in relationship and to seek enduring peace and stability in the region.
Pakistan and Russia had been rivals in the cold war era but both countries struck a defense deal in 2014 which also paved the way for the delivery of Russian advance attack helicopters to Pakistan. Both countries also conducted joint military exercises in 2016 and 2017.
Janjua gave an elaborate presentation to the bilateral forum on trends of global power politics and shared his strategic thinking about evolving security challenges around the globe with particular focus on the region.
He also highlighted the common opportunities for Russia and Pakistan. Regional connectivity and prospects of closer cooperation in the fields of space, defense, security, economy and trade, cyber security, intelligence-sharing remained the main focus of the delegation level talks.
Pakistan delegation included senior representatives from the National Security Division, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense Production, Strategic Plans Division, Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and Intelligence.
The Russian side, led by Nikolai Patrushev, comprised Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces of the Russian Federation, senior representatives from Russian Security Council, Ministry of Internal Affairs, RosoboronExport, Federal Security Services, Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation and RosCosmos, the statement said. NNI